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The citizens of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu organized, in 1937, the Fêtes du centenaire de 1837, in order to commemorate the "struggles of the Patriotes of 1837–1838 for liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy."[4] The festivities took place at various sites across the municipality, and some residents produced souvenirs of the event.[5]

Beginning in 1962, year of the 125th anniversary of the 1837 rebellions, the public gathering in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu to mark the uprisings became an annual event.[4] 20 years later, on 6 October 1982, the Journée des patriotes was declared by the Quebec Governor-in-Council as occurring each year on the Sunday closest to 23 November.[6] The desire to see the Journée des patriotes gain a more official character incited some citizens to campaign for the celebration to be declared a statutory holiday, either as a new holiday or in replacement of an existing one. In 1987, the Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots,"[7][8] while other organizations, such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839 (founded by Pierre Falardeau in 1997 to help the financing of the movie 15 février 1839), later joined in the campaign.

During the provincial congress of the Parti Québécois (May 5—7 2000), party members adopted a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837–1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."[9]

^"With respect to statutory general holidays, Order 1322-2002 designated as “Journée nationale des Patriotes” (National Patriotes’ Day) the holiday that falls on the Monday preceding May 25 (known as Victoria Day in the other Canadian jurisdictions)." - Highlights of Major Developments in Labour Legislation (2002-2003), in the site of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, modified September 22, 2004, retrieved May 31, 2008